9 Things To Do On A Rainy Day In Kuala Lumpur

Malaysia has frequent rain showers that might affect your plans to do outdoor activities. Don’t worry though as there are plenty of things to do with a roof over your head during the downpours. Here are some of the best activities to do to keep you warm and dry on rainy days in Kuala Lumpur.

Café hopping

The Kuala Lumpur cafe scene is popular among foodies and coffee lovers. Chill out in a cozy cafe when it is raining heavily outside. We recommend Merchant’s Lane for delicious brunches and desserts including “Better than Sex” (a pandan roti jala served with two scoops of salted caramel ice cream drizzled with gula Melaka sauce). If you are in the mood for good coffee, visit Piu Piu Piu. The barista, Unagi, will suggest selected coffee beans for your coffee. Don’t forget to ask for homemade Lemon Sour.

Merchant’s Lane: 1st Floor, 150, Jalan Petaling, Kuala Lumpur City Centre, 50000 Kuala Lumpur, Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, +60 3-2022 1736

Piu Piu Piu: No 80b, Zhongshan Building, Jalan Rotan, Kampung Attap, 50460 Kuala Lumpur, Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, +60 10-406 3695

Shopping for souvenirs

Take cover and enjoy some retail therapy, shop for souvenirs which you can take back home for yourselves, friends, and family. The shopping malls we recommend to browse through are Suria KLCC and Pavilion Kuala Lumpur. There is a walkway (takes about 30 minutes) in between these two shopping malls. Shop for handicrafts at Central Market, a 10 minute walk away from Pasar Seni MRT and LRT station.

Suria KLCC: 241, Kuala Lumpur City Centre, City Centre, 50088 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, +60 3-2382 2828

Pavilion Kuala Lumpur: 168, Bukit Bintang Street, Bukit Bintang, 55100 Kuala Lumpur, Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, +60 3-2118 8888

Central Market: Jalan Hang Kasturi, City Centre, 50050 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan, Malaysia, +60 1-300-22-8688

Visit art galleries and museums

Explore art, history, and architecture in Kuala Lumpur’s art galleries and museums. You will gain in-depth knowledge about Malaysia’s culture and heritage. Visit eye-opening exhibitions and amazing architecture at Ilham Gallery, MAP @ Publika, Petronas Gallery, National Museum of Malaysia, Islamic Arts Museum Malaysia, and Zhongshan Building.

Ilham Gallery: Menara Ilham 8, Persiaran KLCC, 50450 Kuala Lumpur, Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

MAP @ Publika: 1, Jalan Dutamas 1, Solaris Dutamas, 50480 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, +60 3-6211 7877

Petronas Gallery: Lot No. 341-43, Level 3, Suria KLCC, Persiaran Petronas, Kuala Lumpur City Centre, 50088 Kuala Lumpur, Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, +60 3-2051 7770

National Museum of Malaysia: Jabatan Muzium Malaysia, Jalan Damansara, Tasik Perdana, 50566 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, +60 3-2267 1111

Islamic Arts Museum Malaysia: Jalan Lembah Perdana, Tasik Perdana, Wilayah Persekutuan, Perdana Botanical Gardens, 50480 Kuala Lumpur, Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, +60 3-2092 7070

Zhongshan Building: Jalan Rotan, Kampung Attap, 50460 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

The inverted dome inside the Islamic Arts Museum Malaysia

Window shopping at art & lifestyle stores

Discover art, stationery, magazines, and home décor at Kuala Lumpur’s art & lifestyle stores. These places will take you away from crowded places and out of the rain to let you browse. We recommend visiting Snackfood and Cziplee in Bangsar. Snackfood is a great place, full of an array of items, from scented candles to diverse books & magazines. You might also have the chance to try short sessions organized by local artisans and meet their cat, Blackjack, who is Snackfood’s mascot. Cziplee invites you to search through various art materials and stationery on its many floors and shelves.

Snackfood: 1st Floor, 17, Jalan Telawi 3, Bangsar Baru, 59100, Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, +60 3-2201 7513

Cziplee: Jalan Telawi 3, Bangsar Baru, 59100 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, +60 3-2287 0699

Local food hunting

Savouring diverse local delicacies is a must for traveling in Malaysia. It is wonderful to indulge in warm and delicious Malaysian food on rainy days. Enjoy mouth-watering street food in Jalan Alor where there is a wide range of restaurants serving seafood and stir-fried dishes. Get yourself comfy at the Old China Café in Chinatown which serves Nyonya cuisine. Try spicy Indian food, such as roti canai (Malaysian style flatbread) with curry, curry with rice, and banana leaf rice, at Sri Nirwana Maju, Restoran Sin Hiap Kee, and Devi’s Corner.

Jalan Alor: Jalan Alor, Bukit Bintang, 50200 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Old China Café: 11, Jalan Balai Polis, City Centre, 50000 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, +60 3-2072 5915

Sri Nirwana Maju: 43, Jalan Telawi 3, Bangsar Baru, 59100 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, +60 3-2287 8445

Restoran Sin Hiap Kee: 30, Lengkungan Brunei, Pudu, 55100 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Devi’s Corner: 14, Jalan Telawi 4, Bangsar Baru, 59100 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, +60 12-267 6714

Get creative

Learn a new skill by creating your own personalized art pieces. Your artworks will be your souvenirs to take home. Take part in batik painting, wood carving, weaving, and other handicrafts activities guided by local professionals at the National Craft Complex. Have your first hands-on experience at The Craft Crowd where you learn various arts and crafts taught by local artisans, including watercolor painting, soap making, leathercraft, brush calligraphy, and others. Make your bookings for classes in advance as they get booked up really quickly.

National Craft Complex: Conlay Road Section 63, Wilayah Persekutuan, 50450 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, +60 3-2162 7459

The Craft Crowd: 16, Jalan Telawi 9, Bangsar Baru, 59100 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Embroidery demonstration at National Craft Complex

Watch live music performances

Enjoy your rainy evenings by watching live music performances. Chill out with your friends while listening to local music and enjoying a drink. Listen to cool and funky jazz at Le Noir and No Black Tie. Belt out some classic rock music, contemporary EDM, and sentimental tunes at The Bee in Publika. If you happen to be in town at the right time, live performances are held at annual music & multicultural festivals and popular hotspots in Kuala Lumpur, join in the fun and dance the night away.

Le Noir: Unit H-G-07, The Hive, TREC, Jalan Tun Razak, Kelab Golf di Raja Selangor, 50400 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, +60 3-2110 4331

No Black Tie: 17, Jalan Nagasari & Jalan Mesui, Bukit Bintang, 50200 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, +60 3-2142 3737

The Bee, Publika: 1, Jalan Dutamas 1, Solaris Dutamas, 50480 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Explore local bookstores

Getting cosy with a good book on a rainy day should not be underestimated. Local bookstores in Kuala Lumpur are the perfect place for some ‘me’ time and discovering international and Malaysian literature. Discover classic literature at Tintabudi Bookshop. Search for the hidden gems of second-hand books at Junk Book Store. Visit Silverfish Books and Projek Rabak Gallery for an introduction to Malaysian literature.

Tintabudi Bookshop: 80b, Jalan Rotan, Kampung Attap, 50460 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Junk Book Store: 78, Jalan Tun H S Lee, City Centre, 50050 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, +60 3-2078 3822

Silverfish Books: Bangsar Village, 20-2F, Jalan Telawi 1, Bangsar, 59100 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, +60 3-2284 4837

Projek Rabak Gallery: 3.39, 2nd Floor, Wisma Central, 50450 Jalan Ampang, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Escape from Breakout Malaysia

Test your problem-solving skills and teamwork with your friends at Breakout Malaysia. They are located at Nu Sentral and Avenue K with different kinds of rooms to choose from. Each room has its own storyline, characters, and puzzles to solve in order to escape within an hour. Add in the thrill and excitement of solving the puzzles and following the clues as a team to escape the room together. It is a great brain workout and team bonding activity.

L4 – 09A , Level 4, Nu Sentral, 201, Jalan Tun Sambathan, 50470, Kuala Lumpur

L2-16 (Level 2), Avenue K, 156, Jalan Ampang, Kuala Lumpur

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